Page 96 of Heartless
“Baby girl!” Shirtless and barefoot, Gunner slid off the couch and came to greet me with an embrace and a smile. “Welcome home.” He pulled me into his chest and I could have dozed off right then, perfectly content against his warm skin.
“It’s good to be home,” I sighed, squeezing around his waist.
He brought his hands to my face, tilting it up for kisses. I melted under the soft presses of his lips, always like gentle rain.
“What do you need? Food? A drink? Sleep?” He pecked kisses on my mouth between each question, making a smile pull across my lips.
“Hm, all of the above. In that order, please.”
“Coming right up,” he murmured, pulling away to holler toward the kitchen. “Jandrooo, make her a plate.”
“What d’you think I’m doing, asshole?”
Gunner and I both flinched at the sound of his voice, full of malice and not a hint of Jandro’s usual playfulness.
“He’s in a shitty fuckin’ mood,” Gunner whispered.
“Let me go see him.” I squeezed his hand before sliding past him into the kitchen. “Heyguapito,” I said tentatively to the man hunched over the kitchen counter.
“Mariposita,” Jandro muttered, rounding the counter toward me.
He wrapped me in a bear hug, pulling me tightly into his chest with his face buried in my neck. The hug was warm, affectionate with missing me, but I picked up on a deep sadness from him too.
“Jandro.” I held tightly around his broad shoulders, one hand scratching over his scalp. “What’s wrong,mi amor?”
He loosened his hold on me, pulling away to search my face intently, then looked to Gunner in the living room. “Did you fuckersnottell her?”
Cold dread filled me. “Tell me what? What’s happened?”
“Reaper was going to,” Gunner answered defensively.
“Fuckingwhen?” Jandro roared.
“After she got settled back in and rested.” Reaper re-emerged from his study, the harsh scowl he usually reserved for his club on his face.
“Tell me what?” I demanded, pulling away from Jandro. “What have you done?”
“Sugar—”
“Do not fuckingsugarme. What did youdo, Reaper?”
My husband’s throat worked in a hard swallow but he didn’t answer, which was telling enough. He did something that I wouldn’t approve of, and my mind immediately jumped to the worst possible scenario.
No...
Oh no, no. How could he? I told him. Itoldhim I wouldn’t forgive him. Does he value our love so little?
“Check Shadow’s room,” Jandro said softly from behind me.
I headed that way immediately, snapping my arm away as Gunner tried to reach out and stop me.
“Mari, please—”
“Stop, Gunner,” I growled. “Just fucking don’t.”
My feet carried me to the threshold of Shadow’s room, the door wide open, which was unusual in itself. I felt along the inside wall for the light switch, my pulse accelerating with the realization that this was where everything went wrong.
The light flicked on, and I found myself staring at an empty room.
